Statfs patfnt cifficf



Nov. 16 1926. w I,607,272

R. B. BENJAMIN SWITCH Filed March 5. 1923 C5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov.16,1926o 1,6o7,272

w R. B. BENJAMVIN SWITCH Filed March 5. 1923 25 Sheets-Sheet 2 PatentedNov. 16, 192725.`

Uni'rse' srars Hansen s. Banani/im, or CHICAGO, ILLntozs, Assrenoa roBENJAMIVN ELECTRIC` Latam raTEN'r orrics..

MANUFACTURING C'SVPNY, OF CHICAGO, IL'TIS, A 'COBEORATON OF ILLINOIS.

SWITCH,

Application fiiearrar'cn 5, 1928, serial No, 822,759.

and inexpensive form of switch which is specially adapted forcontrolling the 'horn and lighting circuits on an automob1le.

A further object of the invention 1s to provlde an automobile llghtingsystem sup-v plied with a particular form' of control V switch which isvreadily associated with the horn Operating` switch. i V

Gther objects of the invention Will appear upon reference to followingspecification and claims taken together with the accompanymg drawings mwhich Figure 1 is an elevational view showing the exterior of a deviceembodylng vthe 1nvention; i

Fig. 2 is a Vertical sectional view taken along the line 2-2 on thedevice shown in Fig. 1, the supporting member .being removed;

3 is a. vertical sectional view taken at right angles to the view shownin Fig. 2 and along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2; i

Fig. 4: is a sectional viewt-aken on the line of Fig. 2; a

Fig. 5 is a bottom view of the structure shown inv Fig. 2; v o

Figs 6 and 7 arev Vertical sectional views respectively taken alongthelines 6-1-6 and 7-7 of Fignrt; :w o

Fig. 8 is a side elevation view of the insulation base member shown insection in Fi'g. 6; w

Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken along line 9-9 of Fig. 2;

Fig. V10 is a. detail view of a contact member;

Fig. 11 is a detail view'of an insulating spacer member;

Fig. 12 is a sectional view ofa device similar to that shown in Fig. 1,but having a modified type of mounting especially adapted for use inconnection with the spark lever of a motor vehicle;

Fig. 13 is a sectional view ltaken along the line 13-13` of F ig. 9;

` Figs. 16, 17 and 18 illustrate various circuit connections showing themanner in which the subject matter of the invention may be connected in'the signalling circuits of a vehicle. i t

In a general way the device of Fig. 1 comprises an insulating supportingmember 20, an insulatingswitch Operating handle 21 Inounted coaXial-lywith the supporting member 'and a tiltable push button 22 surmountingthe handle member 21.' The handle member 21 is adapted to be rotated orturned by the operator in orderto operate switching mechanisln forcontrolling a xlighting circuit for the vehicle. The push button 22'isadapted to be depressed by thel operator in order to operate switchingmechanism for controlling a signa-lling circuit, such as that of theautomobile horn. The push button 22 is of such design that it may bedepressed or tilted in any downward direction `and thereby serveV toclose an electricalA Circuit;

The structure of the tiltable push button 22 willfirst be described indetail. An insulating base vmember 23 is positioned within thesupporting member 20 and the operatlng handle 21 and has mounted thereonvarious connectlng and Operating parts of both the push button switchand of theswitch' operated by the handle 21. The push button switch 22comprises an insulation button or cap member 24! having on its underside a disc-shaped contact member 25 for contacting with an annularcontact 26 positioned at side of the base post 27 and serves to retainthe disc contact up against the button 24. The lower end ot the sleeveis providedwith a fiange 31 interposed between the iiared edges ot thepost 27 and. the metal plate 28. The insulating` spacer 29 surrounds theflange 31.

A coi'led.compression spring 32 surrounds thefsleeve 30 and isinterposed between the metallic plate 28 and the disc contact 25 andthus serves to normally retain the button 24 in an elevatedhorizontal-positiomsozthat the disc contact 25 is normally spaced at allpoints'iirorn'the annular contact 26. Howevenby depressing ortilting`the button 24 in any downward direction, the contacts 25 and 26 may bebrought intoV contactingrelation against the effort of the spring 32.During this action the post 27 and the sleeve 30 w'll be loweredslightly through or tilted with. respect to, the .metallic plate 28.

VThe annular contact 26 may be retvained upon the base member 23 bymeans of a pair ot' lugs 33 and 34, which'extend downwardly and inwardlybeneath the insulating spacer member 29. The insulating spacer therebyserV-es to insulate the plate 28 from contact with either of the lugs 33or 34. The insulating'spacer 29 and the plate 28 are Vretained inposition within the base member by means of'screws 35 and 36, which passupwardly through the base member from the under side thereot. The screw36 may serve the 'further purpose of electrically'connecting the wire 37to the plate 28.

The annular contact 26 is provided with another lug38 (Figs. 7 and 10)v7to which a connectingpiece 39 may be attached as by a rivet 40.Theconnecting piece 39 may be Vin turn attached to a ground connection41 by a screw passingl through an opening 43 in the' supporting' member20.

The screw 42 not only serves the purpose of attaching` the groundconnection but also through themedium of the connecting piece 39 and thecontact 26 provides a means for removably retaining the base member 23in positionwithin the supporting member 20.

The circuit through the push button switch extends from the wire 37 upthrough the `screw 36, the plate 28, the post 27 and the sleeve 30, tothe contact 25. From the con- 'tact 25 when the button 24 is tilted ordei .pressed7 the circuit continues through the series of fianges is torender the device substa-ntially waterproot and to add to the pleasinglappearance ot the assembled structurc.

The switching mechanism Controlled by the Operating handle 21 will nowbe described in detail. As shown in Figs. v2 and 9, an 'annular contact48 in the Vform ot a continuous strip or band is embedded in theinsulation handle 21.- The contact 48 serves to bridge at desired timesthespring contacts 49 and 50, which extend longitudinally of the basemember 23 within slots 51 and 52 provided therefor. The contacts 49 andare fixed at .their lower ends by means ot' binding scr'ewsv53 .and 54.The screws54 and 53v areV retained in the insulatingcbase member 23 bymeans of the threaded metallic insert-s 55 and 56, which may be moldedwithin the base member. CircuitV lead wires 57 and`58 may be attached tothe binding posts and'54, respectively.

The spring contacts 49 and 50 may be provided with rounded Vends whichare adapted to make contact with and be retained in indentations shownat 59, 60 and 61 formed in the contact 48. A portion otithe contact 48as illustrated is covered with insulation at 62. The insulation at 62 isalso provided with an indentationat 63.'

vWhen Vit isl desired 1to complete the circuit through the switch, thehandle member 21 is rotated to the position as shown at Fig. 9 wherebythe spring contacts 49 and 50 may be received in the indentati'ons 60and 61. The contact 48 then Velectrically connects the contacts 49and50. `When it is desired to break the circuit through the switch, thevspring contacts 49 and 50 are turned to the indentations 59 and 63,,respectivelyu the insulating portion 62 then servinc' to holdthecontact 50 out of contact relation with the contact 48. For limitingthe angular movement of the handle member 211 the base member 23 may beprovided with lugz 64a which is adapted to engage a slotted portion 65within the handle. member 21 will readily beunderstood. `The electrical`connections through the switch controlled by the handle member 21therefore .extend from the wire 57 through the binding screw 53, thespring contact 49. the contact 48. the 'spring' contact 50, the binding`.screw 54, to the wire 58 except that when-theswitch is iu its opencircuit position the connectiontis broken between the contact 48 andspring contact 50 by the insulation 62.

In Fig. 12, the switch is shown in a modified type. of supporting' meanscomprising a spark lever 66'. Vith this modification, the spark leverbeing grounded no urther ground' connection'is necessaryand the screw 42may thus serve to directly' groundlthe connecting piece 39 and'to'retain theswitch parts within the spark lever 66. n'bth'er respectsthis modication is similar to that just described with the eXceptionthat an insulation washer 6'? may be provided .beneath the base member23 in order to prevent any possibility of contact between the variousbinding screws and the grounded spark lever 66.

In Fig. 14:, a further moditication is shownmaking use of an Operatinghandle 68 of the type which may be stamped, or cut from sheet fibre orsimilar insulation material and thereby the use of molded insulation forthis part is avoided.A In this modification, a contact 69 corresponds tothe above described contact Li8 and is provided with flanges 70 and 71,which are bent over and upon the handle member 68 and thereby serve toclamp the contact in position thereon. rEhe contact 69 may be providedwith indentations 72, 73 and 74, having a purpose similar to theindentations 59,' 60 and 61, as above described, but' the former alsoserve the additional purpose of preventing relative rotation of thecontact 59 with the handlemember 68. An-indentation 75 ispi'ovideddirectly in the handle member 68 and for a purpose similar tothe indentation 63, above described.

The handle member 68 maybe provided with a slotted portion 76 foraccomplishing` the purposeiof the slotted portion 65 above described. Apair of insulating annular washers 77 and 78 serveto space the handlemember 68 and the contact 69 from the contact 26 and from the groundedspark lever 68, respectively. The handle member 68 may be convenientlyformed with a niurled periphery, as illustrated, in order that thehandle may be more securely grasped by the operator,

rhe diagram of Fig. 16 illustrates a method ofconnect'ng the switch witha battery 79, horn- 80, a pair of headlights 81, and a resistanceelement 82 used foi` dimming the headlights. With the connections asshown in this diagram, a switch'83 may be thrown to the on positionwhereupon the headlights 81 will be (limly lighted since the currentwill not'mally pas through the resistance 82. However, the operator mayshort-circuit the i'es' ince 82 by the switch mechanism abovedescribed'which serves to electrically connect the binding screws 53 and5d. Under this latter condition, the headlights will be fully lighted.The horn may be operated by the actuation of the push button 22, whichserves to electrically connect the screw 36 to the ground connection.

ln the diagram shown in Fig. 17, headlights 84tare shown-for useindependently of a pair of dimming lights 85. By throwing the switch 86,the *cliiiiniing lights may be continually illuminated and by alsoturning I desire that only such Vli'mitatioA the Operating handle 21Vthe headlights may be lighted since the binding screws and 54: may bethereby electrically connected.

In the diagram shown in Fig. 18,*a relay 8? may be used for thealternative iilumination of either the dimming lights 85 or theheadlights 84. At such times as a' switch 88 is thrown to the onposition, a spring` 89 normally retains an arm 90 in contact witha-terminal 91 associated with the circuit of the^aimming lights 85. ACircuit to thefdimming lights 'is thus attained. However, when thehandle' 21 rotated in the position to velectrically connect the bindingscrews 53 and 54, a magnet 92 is energized whereby the arm 90 is throwninto contact with' a terminal 93 associated with the circuit of theheadlights 84. In this nian-v nerV the' dimming lights may beextinguished and the headlights may be i-llumi- 11.1

nated when desired.

The above described diagrams serve to illustrate various alternativemethods of using the switch embodying` this invention in connection witha horn circuit and in connection with both dim and bright headlights.rr`he diagram of Fig. 16 is especially adapted for use wherel but onepair of lamps is desired. The diagram of Fig. 17 illustrates simplemethod of ,Operating separate dim lights andheadlights by means of theswitch abovedescribed, but in certain instances thisI Circuit may beundesirable because of the factlthat the'dim lights are constantlyconnected. In cases where it is desired to switch off the dimlights whenthe bright head-V lights are llghted, the dlagram ofV Fig. 18vlllustratcs a method of uslng a relay for this purpose in connectionwith the above described switch.

`While I have described severalembodiments of my invention, 'wish itV tobe understood that further modifications may bc made therein withoutdeparting from the spiri and scope of the appended claims and shai bimposed upon iy invention as J-ecifically pointed out in the ciaims andsuch are required by the prior art.

Having thus described my inrention, what I claim new and desire toseciiire by United States Letters ,Fat-ent, is: i

1. A switch for controlling the signalling Vand lighting devices of anantomobile, comprising a tiltable push button for controlling thesignalling, and a rotatable annnlar handle coaXial with the push buttonand'surrounded thcreby for controllingI the licl'iI-i'i 2, A switch forcontrolling the' signalling and lighting' devices of an automobi'leicom' prising 'an insulating` base, wiring terminals and contacts for thesignalling` and lightingV devices on said insulating base, push buttonfor controlling the signalling mounted on said lnsulatlng base, and anannular handle for controlling the lighting,` siviveled on saidinsulating base, a contact controlled by said push button, and circuitconnections for sait contact extending through the opening,` in saidannular handle.

3. A switch for controlling thesignalling and lighting devices of anautomobile, comprising an insulating base, wiring terminala and contactsfor the signalling and lighting` devices on said insulating base, atiltable push button for controlling` the signalling mounted on, saidinsulatingbase, and an annular handle for controlling` the lightingsvviveled on said insulatinf` base.

4. A svitch for controlling` the sirnallin,r and lighting devices of anautomobile, comprising an insulating; base, wiring terminals on one faceof said base for the signalling` and lighting` devices, an annularcontact for the signalling device, on the other face of said insulating`base, a tiltable push button on said insulating base having a contactcooperating With said. annular contact for controlling the signalling,.contact for the lighting devices on the .side of said'insulating base,and an annular handle for controlling` the lighting swiveled on saidi'nsulating" base, and having a contact cooperating1 With said sidecontact. i

5 A switch for controling the signalling and li,:,'hting` devices of anautomobile, comprisinp; an insulating,` base, a pushbutton forcontrolling the signallin: mounted at one end of said insulating base, asupporting member for said insulatino; base, and anV annular handle forcontrolling the lighting 'swiveled on said insulating base between saidpush button and supporting member, a contact Controlled by said pushbutton, and circuit connections for said contact extending through theopening in said annular handle.

6. In a switching device, a supportin` member, a rotatable annularswitch handle mounted on said supporting member, a Vtiltabl'y operablepush button forming 'a cap surmounting 'said handle, and switching,`means positioned beneath said push 'button `Within said ,handle. v

7. A switch comprising; a substantially cylindrical base member,iviring` terminals and contacts on said base member, an annular-rotatable handle member surrounding said cylindrical base member andhaving a contact for coacting With one of said contacts on said basemember, a push button forming a cap surmounting,` said base and handlemembers, and a contact on said push button for coacting with another ofsaid contacts on said base member, a contact controlled by said pushbutton, and circuit connections' for said contact lextending through theopening in said annular handle.

8. In a svvitching device, a support, an annular rotatable handle memberthereon having an upstan'ding` annular flange thereon, a. tiltable pushbutton forming a cap with edges overhanging said upstanding fiange, andswitching means operable by said handle member.

9.V In a switching device, a supporting member having. an upstandinglannular flange, a rotatable handle member mounted on `said supportingmember vand having an ann-ular peripheral flange overhanging said fiangevon 'said supporting.member, a push buttonforming,I a cap surmount-ing`said handle member, and switching' contacts and terminals positionedbeneath said push button and substantially Within said handle member. I

10.In aswtching device, a supporting member .having an upstandingg,`annular flange, a rotatable handle member mounted on said supportingmember' and having an annular peripheral flange overhanging saidfiange'on saidhsupporting member, an upstanding annular fiange on saidhandle member,.=a push button forming a cap With dges oi/*erhanging saidupstanding flange on said handle inember, and switching means operableby said handle 11. In aswitching device, a supporting member, arotatable annular switch handle .m'ountedron said supporting member, atiltably operable push button forming a cap surmounting said. handle,and switching means operable by saidhandle.

12. In a switching device, a supporting member, a rotartable annularswitch handle mountedon said supporting member, a tiltably operable pushbutton forming a cap surmounting said handle, and switching` meansassociated-With said push button and with said handle positioned beneathsaid push Vbutton and substa-ntially within said handle. w

13. A switch for controlling the signalling andlighting devices of anautomobile comprising` a support, a push buttoi'i for controlling thesignalling`` mounted on said support, an annular handle adjacent andcoaxial Witl respect to said push button for controlling vthe lightingdevices, said handle being swivelled on said support, a contactcontrolled byV said push button, and Circuit connections for saidcontact extending through the openingin said annular handle.

InV witness whereof,-I have hereunto subscribed my name.

